Chapter 12 – The Hearing

The following week before the trial went as fast as the speed of light but also as slow as a snail at the same time, Harrys anxiety and depression worsened as each day past and got significantly worse the night of the full moon as all he could hear was Remus howling in one of the rooms next to him. Harry could no longer stomach full meals and only ate what he could, no one said anything as they thought he was nervous about the trial. He woke up a least twice a night from nightmares and flashbacks and hence got little to no sleep. He tried to keep up his happy demeaner around and managed it mostly when everyone was around, because everyone was too busy helping around the house or helping Sirius with his defence but when he was alone that was when he fell apart.

The night before the trials at dinner the plan was discussed with everyone before they went to the ministry the following day. Harry's trial was at midday, and Sirius' two hours later, it was decided that Harry would go to the ministry with Mr Weasley in the morning and stay in his office until his hearing. Sirius would be escorted to the Ministry by Kingsley Shacklebolt and Nympahadora Tonks both regular guests after Order meetings and knew everyone well. They hoped that Harrys hearing would be over with before Sirius' started so that Harry could sit in and hear exactly what happened to his parents.

Harry was sent up to bed early that night, thoughts overwhelming his mind, he was going to know what happened to his parents tomorrow, he also knew he would know if he was going back to school or not. The thoughts made the knots in his stomach so tight they cramped, not having anything to eat that night also meant that there was nothing to help relieve the discomfort. Harry was about to fetch his blade from his trunk to help with the feelings when there was a knock at the door.

"Come in" said Harry loudly. The door opened and in came a limping and pale Remus walked through the door. "Remus take a seat" said Harry quickly scooting up the bed so there was room at the bottom for him to sit down without crushing his injured leg.

"Thank you, Harry, I just thought I would come and check on how you were doing?"

"I'm okay, just a bit nervous about the trials and that tomorrow"

"Harry you are not okay, you are tired, you aren't eating that much, are the trials really getting to you, or is your leg causing you discomfort?"

Shit, Harry thought, he is noticing me, I cannot give anything away, he cannot see how broken I am, he would never want me to be around and then ill be going back to the Dursleys and never go back to Hogwarts! Harry took a deep breath before replying and tried to take the top off the iceberg about his parents, because he was anxious about what had happened. "Its just been fourteen years since it happened, I mean I understand more now about what happened, I just can't prepare myself for hat I might hear tomorrow. I mean what if they are biased again and try to send me down or worse Sirius down again?"

"All those worries are valid, every single one of them but I would like you to know one thing an I will let you get to bed to try and get some sleep. Whatever happens tomorrow, or anytime in the future know that there are people around you that care for you and always will no matter what. It will be okay, you have got this alright?" Harry nodded as Remus patted him on the back "Alright, goodnight Harry"

"Goodnight Moony and thanks" Harry replied smiling. Remus smiled back at him and stood up and made his way back out of the room. Harry felt a little better after talking to Remus, so he decided to try and settle down for the night.

So, exhausted from everything Harry dozed off quickly that night but was greeted with a new nightmare. He was standing in the centre of a circular room with rows and rows of thousands of people looking down at him. All talking loudly hat he was a disgrace, and his parents were lucky they were dead since he was such a disappointment. It only got worse from there, Remus Sirius and all the Weasleys were there looking disappointed in him, the judge stood up to speak and explained the circumstances of the trial before starting a vote he didn't even get to say what he prepared. When the judge next spoke, they shouted "GUILTY"

Harry woke up in a cold sweat breathing hard, he was guilty, he was ging to Azkaban, everyone hated him, he didn't deserve to be here, he should be dead. Still not making much sense he got up and found his blade before hopping into the bathroom. Without thinking he sliced his arm, once, two, three, four and five times, he didn't know how deep he went, he didn't care to be frank all he needed was to be punished. Tears rolled down his face as his breathing slowly evened out. He let the blood drop down onto the crystal white floor into a pool for ages until the blood on his arm hardened.

Finally calm enough to sort himself out he took a deep breath before looking at the damage he had done. He took a wet cloth and wiped the fried blood from his arm and checked to make sure the edges of the cuts were together. The ones that weren't he uses some spellotape to make sure they were closed. Once he was happy it was all clean and not bleeding, he used a spare bandage that came from his knee when his bandages were replaced a couple of days ago around his arm. He then used some paper to clean the floor he was sitting on before making his way back to his room. He looked over at the clock and read 4.30am, not enough time to go back to sleep he thought so he decided to get changed into his best cloths that Mrs Weasley had prepared for him.

Once changed he took out his statement and reread it over and over again until he knew it almost off by heart, he knew he didn't need to and could read from it in the court, but he just didn't want to risk it. Time seemed to be moving really slowly now each second felt like a minute. His heart was pounding in his chest and there was nothing that was helping calming it down. He forced himself to breathe deeply as the sun rose and came through the crack in the curtains. It wasn't long after that there came a knock on the door.

"Harry its time to get up, I'm sorry it's so early"

"It's okay, I'm up Harry called back picking up his comb to use in the bathroom mirror. He started attempting to drag the comb through his hair using water to attempt to make it flat, but with no avail his air still stuck up in all directions no matter what he did to it. Harry then picked up his statement and left the room making his way down to the kitchen. Mrs Weasley was pacing back and forth the kitchen, Remus was sitting on the table bouncing his leg in anxiety and Sirius was in dog form running up and down under the table.

"Morning Harry" fussed Mrs Weasley coming over to hi and trying to pat down his hair. "Come ave some breakfast"

"No thanks Mrs Weasley, it's a bit early"

"Alright, how about I sort your best trousers out, transfigure them under your brace" Harry nodded and Mrs Weasley did the spell and immediately he felt a lot more comfortable

"Thank you, that's a lot better"

"You are welcome Harry dear, now let's sort out this hair"

"No Molly, we need to go if we are going to get there on time" Mrs Weasley nodded, Remus stood up to give him a hug and wish him good luck. Padfoot came running up to him and put his paws on Harrys chest licking his face earning Sirius the only smile of the day so far. After the goodbyes and good lucks were said Mr Weasley and Harry left. "We are using Muggle transport today to make a point to the ministry that you did not use that spell" Harry nodded and followed r Weasley slowly to the nearest underground train station where Harry bought them tickets.

Mr Weasley couldn't help pointing at everything as they were going through the tube station, if he wasn't drawing enough attention to them being on crutches with a massive brace on his leg, Mr Weasley was pointing at everything on technological. Harry was given a seat on the train because of his leg, he appreciated that as he was already starting to ache. Once they were at their stop, they got ff and made their way to a small side street where there was a phone box.

"In here, Harry" Said Mr Weasley as they both squeezed into the red phone box. "I've never used the visitor's entrance before, right now let's see, 6, and 2, and 4, and another 4, and finally a 2" He punched in the numbers before picking up the receiver.

"Welcome to the Ministry of Magic, state your business" said a woman's voice out the end of the receiver

"Arthur Weasley, Department of Misuse of Muggle Artifacts office, chaperoning Harry Potter here for a disciplinary hearing"

"Thank you, Visitor please take your ID pin and report to security" stated the women's voice. A pin came out of where the coins would usually be ejected, and Harry pinned it to his clothes. Once he had done that the telephone box suddenly started to move down like a lift down into the ministry. No one seemed to be bothered by a large metal phone box coming down from the ceiling as the appeared in green flames in fireplaces that lined the walls of the atrium.

Once they had arrived safely in the atrium they stepped out and made their way to the centre of the ministry which had a statue in the centre, Harry didn't pay much attention, he was more concerned about being knocked over by the amount of people rushing back and forth. They finally arrived at the security desk where they asked for Harrys details and to scan his wand before being allowed it back and sent on their way. Arthur guided Harry to a lift, and they went up tonto the Misuse of Magical Artifacts office.

Once arrived Mr Weasley told Harry to take a seat while he prepared for the day. The office was small and full of muggle objects that had so blatantly been changed with Magic. Mr Weasleys desk was messy and cramped by fining cabinets which were full to bursting with papers.

"My colleague Perkins should be in soon; he will be happy to meet you" said Mr Weasley as he fussed around the office trying to tidy things up but with little success due to the minute size of the office space. Mr Weasley was just about to sit down at his desk when a man with fluffy white hair came bursting into the room gasping for breath

"Arthur" he breathed heavily "I've just overheard Fudge" he continued "The trial, they've moved it to 9am up in courtroom 10"

"Shit" swore Mr Weasley, "Thanks Perkins, Harry come, we have to go they've changed the time of your hearing"

"To when?"

"Now" replied Mr Weasley as Harry jumped up and followed him as fast as he could using his sticks and without hurting his leg even further. They managed to get into a lift rather quickly and were soon on level 10. They made their way down a corridor and finally arrived at a small passage in the wall. "Its in there, I can't come in I'm afraid. You have everything you prepared?" Harry nodded "Good luck Harry" Harry nodded again, blind panic building in his system, his legs like lead and his arms not wanting to move but he forced himself to take a deep breath and hobbled into the room.

Harry looked around and realised he had been in here before, when he fell into the pensive the previous year and witnessed a number of trials. Like when he was in the pensive there was a full court of Wizenganmot, with the Minister for Magic sat at the front.

"You are late, this hearing began five minutes ago" stated Fudge, his once fatherly smile no more it only being replaced by a cold stare. Next to him sat a hyper tidy Percy Weasley looking up at Fudge and gave Harry none of his usual hello gestures "Sit" he stated. Harry made his way over to the chair in the centre of the courtroom and sitting down in it, placing his crutches down on one side. He was relieved to find ghat the chair did not bind him like it did Barty Crouch Jr or Karkaroff. "State your full name"

"Harry James Potter"

"Right, good. Weasley are you ready?" Percy's chest expanded pompously before nodding at the Minister "This is the hearing of the 12th August 1995, alleged crimes committed, use of underage magic. Lead by Cornelius Oswald Fudge, overseen by Amelia Bones and recited by Percy Weasley" all three nodded at each other before nodding to the wizards and witches sat in robes with a W on them. "On the 29th August we have received intelligence that you performed the Patronus Charm at twenty-three minutes past nine this evening in a Muggle-inhabited area and in the presence of a muggle. This is a crime detected under the Decree of Restriction of Underage Sorcery, do you plea guilty or not guilty"

Harry whose insides were knotting and making him feel sick took a deep breath before stating "Not guilty" the entire court was looked surprised but became neutral once again

"We keep a very close eye on all of our young witches and wizards Mr Potter, it is clear that you are lying"

"I am not lying" he stated before pulling out his scroll of parchment he had worked on the last week "This is my statement, this states what happened on the night of the 12th August. Would you like me to read it or do you?"

"Preposterous, its all lies!" claimed Fudge

"Minister, all suspects must be given the right to provide a statement for their hearing. I will just ensure it is genuine before it needs to be read out" called Mrs Bones.

"Very well, very well!" exclaimed Fudge as he used magic to summon Harrys scroll towards them. They performed a number of spells on the parchment before stating "Statement is valid. Mrs Bones please read it out to the court". Harry was relieved that he didn't have to read it out to everyone, he didn't think his anxiety could take it, he was just about stopping himself from panicking as it was.

"Statement of the events of the 12th August at 23 minutes past 9 by Harry James Potter. I swear on my magic that all information on this parchment is the truth and nothing but the truth" Amelia began. The wizards and witches in the court raised their eyebrows as if Harry was found to be lying, he would lose his magic.

"On the night of the 12th August, I was sitting on the swing at the park near where I live, my Cousin was making his way home and as I needed to be back at the same time, I started to make my way back. However, before we made it anywhere near the house the streetlights started to flicker, and everything began becoming cold. Knowing what this meant I turned around to see two large dementors making their way towards us. I told Dudley to run as I started running too. I had full intention to use the Patronus charm but by the time I had managed to get my wand out of my pocket while running the dementors had taken their effect and I couldn't produce the charm. The only option left was to run, I was running backwards at this point, trying to make sure Dudley wasn't going to be affected too since I am faster than him, he was behind me. Not looking where I was going, I had managed to run into a muggle street where a car was speeding down the road, the driver hit me and all I can remember is the smashing of glass and the pain in my leg. Once on the floor, dazed I heard a crack like someone had apparated near me before I heard the Patronus charm being produced. That was the last thing I remembered before waking up in muggle hospital a while later.

It is stated in the law that underage wizards can use magic in life threatening situations. A dementor attack means that mine and my cousins souls could have been sucked out of us, this fills all the criteria outlined in the Decree of Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery, that would be valid if I conjured the partonus.

Also, if I did perform the patronus charm a priori incantatem analysis of my wand would show that my last spell was not the patronus charm but a jinx I performed before I left school. Since you have not received any more intelligence of me performing magic outside of Hogwarts since then, it would be evident that I did not perform the spell. I therefore give permission for my wand to be scanned and the details noted by the ministry

This statement is again a recalling of the 12th August at twenty-three minutes past nine. I understand if any information stated here is wrong my magic will be affected so mote it be"

A silver slither of magic wrapped itself around the parchment and Harry before raising up and disappearing.

"The information on the statement is all correct and truthful" stated Amelia Bones.

"I cannot believe two dementors were so outside the bounds of Azkaban, where is the report from this? It needs to be on my desk by the end of the day"

"Hem Hem" came a oddly high voice from the Wizenganmot, Harry looked to see which one I was. The woman who was wearing all bright pink under her robes had stood up. The minister nodded for her to continue "It seems so silly of me to say, if Mr Potter did not cast the charm who did? There seems to be a hole in his story"

"Mr Potter do you care to elaborate?"

"I don't know who cast the charm, I had been run over by a car you see, all I remember is a hazy image of a blue light being cast before waking up in a muggle hospital. If you want proof that I did not cast the charm then scan my wand as my statement has suggested"

"And how do we know you are not lying about the car incident?" asked the woman in pink, he toad like face producing an oddly sweet, unnatural smile which made Harry cringe.

"I do not have the evidence to hand, but if you were to contact Surry general hospital I am sure they would be able to provide you with the incident paperwork as well as the injuries I sustained." Harry stated blankly, Remus had told him what to say if such a question was asked.

"Very well, that's enough of that, Mr Potter you have given permission to have your wand scanned, please bring it here" Harry nodded and picked up his crutches and made his way over to the Ministers stand handing over his wand before going back to sit on the seat. The minister then handed it to a young man who held a wooden machine which looked like it could expel paper. He then placed Harrys wand onto the scale and pressed a button on the bottom. Almost immediately paper started running out of the bottom. Once it was done, he ripped the paper off and handed it to Amelia to read out.

"Wand, 11" phoenix feather core, Holly wood. Belonging to Harry James Potter. Last spell conjured was a summoning charm on the 30th June. Mr Potter did not conjure a patronus charm on the date in question" Amelia stated before handing the wand back to Harry who had come over to get it. "I think we have enough evidence to vote" said Amelia before anyone else could get a word in.

"Very well, All those in favour of charging Mr Potter" Fudge raised his hand so did the toad faced witch in the pink but they were the only ones who did. "All in favour of clearing all charges" Everyone else raised their hands. "cleared of all charges" he stated before packing up his things and started to leave.

Harry sat there wondering what he should do, relief washed over him relieving him of the anxiety and some of the darkness he had over him the last few weeks. He was going back to Hogwarts; he was so happy. The remainder of the court left him there, not telling him if he could leave or not but when the last person left he decided it was okay for him to too. Maybe today was going to be okay, he just hoped it would go as well for Sirius as that anxiety settled in his chest nervous as for the first time in his life he could have a proper parent figure.

NOTE: I hope I have done that hearing justice, and that its not too slow. Hope you enjoyed!